'North-south divide' on disability

People living in different parts of England are facing a postcode lottery when it comes to the age they should expect to be struck down with a disability or long-term illness, new figures suggest.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that people living in some parts of the country can expect to enjoy an extra 16 years of life without such conditions than people in other regions.

Experimental statistics from the data authority show that people born in the south of England have a much higher "disability-free life expectancy" (DFLE) compared with those in the north.

The latest ONS report also highlights the regions where people can expect to live for the least and longest time without a disability or "limiting persistent illness".

Baby girls born in Herefordshire between 2009 and 2011 have a DFLE of 71.7 years - 16.1 years longer than girls born in Tower Hamlets, east London, who can expect to live 55.6 years on average before being struck down with such conditions.

Boys born in Richmond upon Thames can expect to live until they are 69.9 without disability while th ose born in Liverpool have a DFLE of 56.4 years - 13.5 years less than those born in the south west London borough.

Across England the average DFLE for boys born between 2009 and 2011 is 63.9 years and for girls it is 64.4 years.

The new ONS report states: "T here was considerable variation between the DFLE of different regions.

"There was a clear north-south divide, with the southern regions having higher DFLE."

Comments

While there may be in general a difference between North and South of the country, it's clearly not that sharp a divide, given that the lowest age for females is Tower Hamlets in London, definitely in the South, and the highest is Hereford, still in the South but well to the north of Tower Hamlets.

Without looking at more of the figures than are presented here it's hard to be sure, but it looks like the DFLE is rather more strongly correlated with wealth than with latitude.

And that means its also not a "postcode lottery" either.

While there may be in general a difference between North and South of the country, it's clearly not that sharp a divide, given that the lowest age for females is Tower Hamlets in London, definitely in the South, and the highest is Hereford, still in the South but well to the north of Tower Hamlets.
Without looking at more of the figures than are presented here it's hard to be sure, but it looks like the DFLE is rather more strongly correlated with wealth than with latitude.
And that means its also not a "postcode lottery" either.mark1111

While there may be in general a difference between North and South of the country, it's clearly not that sharp a divide, given that the lowest age for females is Tower Hamlets in London, definitely in the South, and the highest is Hereford, still in the South but well to the north of Tower Hamlets.

Without looking at more of the figures than are presented here it's hard to be sure, but it looks like the DFLE is rather more strongly correlated with wealth than with latitude.

And that means its also not a "postcode lottery" either.

Score: 3

Rita Jelfs
3:40pm Thu 24 Jul 14

This report gives no rationale for why there is a north/south divide. Rather, its a sanitised, insular report of these national health statistics. Instead of just 'reporting', the Evesham Journal could do some journalism - analysis and explanation. Otherwise what's the point of reporting the item. The Evesham Journal could have confirmed that postcodes relate to lower socioeconomic areas. These areas have higher unemployment, lower standards of education, lower standards of living and poverty. Hence lower health outcomes.

This report gives no rationale for why there is a north/south divide. Rather, its a sanitised, insular report of these national health statistics. Instead of just 'reporting', the Evesham Journal could do some journalism - analysis and explanation. Otherwise what's the point of reporting the item. The Evesham Journal could have confirmed that postcodes relate to lower socioeconomic areas. These areas have higher unemployment, lower standards of education, lower standards of living and poverty. Hence lower health outcomes.Rita Jelfs

This report gives no rationale for why there is a north/south divide. Rather, its a sanitised, insular report of these national health statistics. Instead of just 'reporting', the Evesham Journal could do some journalism - analysis and explanation. Otherwise what's the point of reporting the item. The Evesham Journal could have confirmed that postcodes relate to lower socioeconomic areas. These areas have higher unemployment, lower standards of education, lower standards of living and poverty. Hence lower health outcomes.

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